402 THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. September 1, 1916. admitting high-pressure steam only when the supply of low-pressure steam is insufficient for the load. The condenser is of the Westinghouse-Leblanc multi- jet type (fig. 4) with a rotary valveless dry air pump (fig. 5) and a centrifugal extraction pump, both of which, together with a centrifugal pump supplying water to compressor cooling jackets, are driven in common by a small engine. The compressor has 20 stages, arranged in two cylinders, and is direct coupled to the turbine. Although Fig. 4.—Westinghouse-Leblanc Multiple-jet Condenser. b & the compressor is not loaded to its full capacity, it is noteworthy that since the turbo set was put to work it has been found possible to shut down two of the Lanca- shire boilers formerly necessary to supply steam to the engine driven compressor. Electric Power Plant. The electric power plant is driven by gas engines, the gas being obtained from two pressure producers, supplied by the Power Gas Corporation and burning bituminous coal obtained from the colliery. They are each rated at 500 brake horse-power capacity, and are complete with washers, governor, scrubbers, and a tar tank with pump. The coal for the producers is fed by gravity from wagons into a suitable hopper below ground level, and is raised by elevators to overhead hoppers, whence it is fed into the producers as required. The power house contains five Premier horizontal scavenging-type gas engines of 250 horse-power, each at 150 revolutions, driving five 150 kw. compound-wound direct current generators, each giving 625 ampbres at 240 volts. For transmission to the main haulages and a pump below ground, and also to an auxiliary ventilating fan above ground, two motor generating sets each of 400 kw. capacity, have been installed, to convert from direct current at 240 volts to three-phase alternating current- at 3,200 volts and 25 cycles. The electrical output of all the generating sets is con- trolled by a fully equipped 19-panel switchboard, which, in addition to two high-tension generator panels and two high-tension feeder panels, contains the following low- tension direct current panels : Five for generatons, -two for the direct current side of the motor generator sets, and seven feeder panels. The power house also contains a Beiliss and Morcom electrically driven two-stage air compressor, having two cylinders, 14in. and Ilin, diameter by 244 in. stroke, and capable of compressing 1,500 cu. ft. of free air to a pressure of 801b. per square inch when running at 333 revolutions. This plant is intended to take the load during week-ends. Screening Plant. The screening plant was made by Messrs. Plowright Brothers, of Chesterfield, and consists of four self-con- tained units, each comprising a tippler, jigging screens (two double jiggers for soft coal and two single jiggers for hard coal), four main picking belts (fig. 6), and one auxiliary bar-type belt. AU the belts have trunk ends that can be lowered into railway wagons, the raising and lowering gear being gear-driven through a flat-faced friction clutch by a suitable motor. The tipplers are of the automatic power-driven side- tipping type, but may also be operated by means of a hand lever. The full tubs are hauled up a covered incline to the tippler floor by a suitable electric motor, and the empty tubs are raised by a similar device, and gravitate to the shafts. The housings for the screens and gantries are of steel construction, with steel and asbestos sheet roofs, reinforced brickwork sides, and floors of ferro-concrete, the whole building being fire- proof. The screening plant is electrically operated throughout by enclosed type direct-current motors of 50, 30, and 10 horse-power capacity, all of the totally enclosed type. Washery. For hard and bright nuts, washers by Messrs. H. Greaves and Company, of Derby, are used, each of the three units having a capacity of 20 tons per hour. A Luhrig slack washing plant, capable of dealing with 150 tons per hour, is also to be installed. I Fig. 5.—-Westinghouse-Leblanc Rotary Valveless Air-pump. d Air Pump Lamp House. The whole of the colliery is worked with “ Ceag ” type electric safety lamps, and pro- vision is made in the lamp house for 3,000 lamps to be cleaned, stored, and charged, the charging being effected by means of a suitable motor generator set. The men on the way to the pit walk in to the lamp house through turn- stiles, take their lamps from hook or rack, and leave through another -turnstile on the oppo- site side of the house. On returning, the lamps are passed through a large window in the side of the house. Office Buildings. The buildings include stores measuring 75 ft. by 30 ft. by 16 ft. high for light goods, and 100 ft. by 30 ft. by 16 ft. high for heavy goods. A separate building contains a completely equipped electrical engineer’s workshop and stores, together with a chemist’s laboratory, provided with all apparatus necessary for making tests of mine gas and dust. A separate building also is pro- vided as an ambulance room; and the colliery is joined to the district rescue station situated at Wheatley. Model Village. The Woodlands model village, which is the property of the colliery company, includes at present 960 houses, covering an area of 120 acres, and surrounded by 40 acres of shrubberies and plantations. The houses average eight per acre, and accommodate a population consisting entirely of employees of the company, and numbering 6,600. The rents (clear) and accommoda- tion provided in the houses are as follow :—The 5s. 6d. house consists of three bedrooms, large living room, scullery, larder, etc.; the 6s. 3d. house consists of three bedrooms, living room, parlour, scullery, larder, etc.; the 6s. 9d. house consists of three bedrooms and private bathroom, with hot and Cold water supply, living room, parlour, scullery, larder, etc.; and the 7s. fid. house con- sists of three large bedrooms, large living room, secon- dary living room with cooking range, and bath, larder, etc. There is also a workmen’s club and institute, and the club house is equipped with a good library, a large conservatory, and two bowling greens. The profits are expended for the benefit of the village. In conclusion, it may be mentioned that the output of the colliery is approximately 20,000 tons weekly, that the present number of employees is 2,300, and that 830 men from the colliery are now serving in H.M. Forces. MINE RESCUE WORK IN ALBERTA.* By John T. Stirling. Steps were first taken by the Government of Alberta, in co-operation with the mine operators in the province, fol the installation of mine rescue and first-aid train- ing during the year 1912. After giving the matter careful consideration, it was decided to adopt the Proto and Salvator types of apparatus—a decision which has been justified, at least so far as the Proto apparatus is concerned. These types of apparatus are manufactured by Siebe. Gorman and Company Limited, of England, the Proto being of the two-hour type, and the Salvator of the one- hour type. After considerable experience with both types, the conclusion has been arrived at that the Salvator, or one-hour type, should be eliminated, for an apparatus which does not permit a man to remain in a vitiated atmosphere for at least two hours is of no prac- tical value. The one-hour type has therefore been dis- pensed with, and only the two-hour type used. As far as the apparatus is concerned, this is the only change that has been found necessary to make, after an experi- ence covering practically four years. When mine rescue stations were first established in the province, the resuscitating device known as the Pulmotor was adopted, and has given satisfactory results. Recently, however, a device known as the Lungmotor has been put on the market. Two of these devices have been obtained for the stations, in addition to several which have been installed at various mines throughout the province. The first station in the province was established at Blairmore during the year 1912; and shortly afterwards arrangements were made with the Canadian Pacific Railway Company, whereby a passenger coach was obtained and fitted up as a mine rescue station. Its effectiveness has since been thoroughly proved. Origin- ally, it was arranged that electricity for lighting the car and re-charging the lamps used for rescue operations should be obtained from t-he power plant of any mine where the car might happen to be. Very soon, how- ever, the advantages of having the ear entirely self- contained became apparent, and in consequence an electric generating plant operated by a gasoline engine was installed. The electric lamps, manufactured by Siebe, Gorman and Company Limited, were provided, and have given satisfaction; but, as was fully demon- strated at the Hillcrest disaster, a man can do much more efficient mine rescue work if he has both hands free, these lamps are being replaced as rapidly as possible by headlights. I Fig. 6.—Main Picking Belts. During the year 1913 a station was erected and put into operation at the No. 6 mine, operated by the Canadian Pacific Railway Company, near Lethbridge, and also sub-stations at Coalhurst, Commerce, and Taber. During the year 1914 a second car was obtained and placed in the Canmore and Bankhead district. This car is equipped in the same manner as the Crow’s Nest Pass car, with the difference that certain alterations considered advisable were effected. During the year 1915 stations were established at Pocahontas and * Canadian Mining Institute Bulletin.